Plug and socket means for connecting table tops together



Feb. 26, 1957 s. GACHT 2,783,107

PLUG AND SOCKET MEANS FOR CONNECTING TABLE TOPS TOGETHER Filed March 11, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

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S. GACHT Feb. 26, 1957 PLUG AND SOCKET MEANS FOR CONNECTING TABLE TOPS TOGETHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1955 Steven Gas/1t- INVENTOR.

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. Feb. 26, 1957 s. GACHT 2,783,107

PLUG AND SOCKET MEANS FOR CONNECTING TABLE TOPS TOGETHER 'Filed March 11, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 4

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4/ 4/ 5/ l l l L 1 J J I I Steven Goa/1r INVENTOR.-

PLUG AND SOCKET MEANS FOR CONNECTING TABLE TOPS TOGETHER Steven Gacht, Lincoln Park, Mich.

Application March 11, 1955, Serial No. 493,762

4 Claims. (Cl. 311-4) My invention relates to improvements in folding tables and means for coupling the same together side by side.

The primary object of my invention is to provide for coupling a number of rectangular tables together side by side in accurately aligned relation so that a large number may be coupled together at any side thereof either in a single row or in right angularly arranged rows to provide a flush continuous table area as large as may be required.

Another object is to provide means for accomplishing the above which will reinforce the tables at the sides and at the corners especially.

Still another object is to provide pull-apart plug-in means for connecting such tables side by side at corners thereof in accurately aligned relation easily and quickly.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent .reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of my improved tables in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in plan partly broken away and shown in section; I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view'in transverse section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged inverted view in horizontal section;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the coupling plugs;

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a false corner notch filler plug of the table;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal section taken on the line 77 of Figure l, and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view on a smaller scale illustrating a plurality of the tables coupled together.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the table 1 of my invention comprises a top 3, preferably square and formed in one panel of metal, or plastic, and which is provided with right angled V-shaped corner notches 5 formed therein of a size suitable for the purpose presently seen, and with sides formed by subjacent box flanges 7 nited State Patent 0 of right angled cross section extending along the edges of i said top 1 and having adjacent spaced apart ends 9 open at each corner notch 5 flush with the sides of the notch. The flanges 7 are formed preferably on the top 3.

Corner legs 11 are pivoted on the inner sides of the flanges 7 at the ends of said flanges on lateral studs'13 on the flanges to fold upwardly under the top 3 alongside said flanges 7. Each leg 11 is locked in unfolded position by a pair of conventional break-joint folding links 15 having corresponding ends pivoted as at 17, 19 to the upper portion of the leg 11 and to a bracket 21 on the top 3, the other ends of the links 15 being pivoted together as at 23 for folding and being provided with the conventional snap action catch 25 releasably retaining the pair unfolded.

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The legs 11 are prefenably formed of upper and lower square, hollow sections 27, 29 telescopic for extension and contraction of the legs. A locking pin 31, is suspended by a leaf spring 33 on the upper section 27 of each leg for insertion through a pair of holes 35 in opposite sides of the upper section 27 and selectively in'longitudinally spaced pairs of holes 37 in opposite sides of the lower section 29 to lock the sections 35, 37 together in extended and contracted positions of the legs.

The flanges 7 form edge reinforcing means for the top 3 and together with the corner notches form part of corner coupling means for coupling a plurality of tables 1 1 at the corners thereof in right angularly related rows 39, 41 in alignment in the rows. This means (see Figures 4, 5 and 8) further comprises coupling plugs 43 having wide rectangular central portions 45 fitting in and filling two opposed corner notches 5 of table 1 arranged side by side, and reduced rectangular end portions 47 fitting frictionally in the adjacent ends 9 of the flanges at said notches 5. 7 As best shown in Figures 1 and 8, the ends 9 of the flanges 7 form right angularly related sockets at each corner of the table top 3 in which a pair of the plugs 43 may be inserted in right angular relation in alignment with right angled sides of said top and flush with said sides and tops 3 to align the tables in the right angularly related, rows 39, 41.

As best shown in Figures 6 and 8, filler plugs, as at 51 are provided for filling in the unused notches Sand these plugs comprise a wide rectangular portion 53 of the same size as a notch 5 and a reduced rectangular portion 55 fitting in one flanged end 9 at that notch.

A pair of cubical blocks as at 54 are fitted in each flange 7 adjacent the ends thereof and are each held in place between a pair of vertical and horizontal rivets 55, 57 in the flange. One of each pair of blocks 54 is tapped horizontally as at 58 opposite holes 59 in the ends of the flange 7 while the other is bored horizontally as at 61 opposite holes 63 in the flange 7. These blocks54 and holes 59, 65 are for attaching the top 3 of tables together side by side by bolts, as at 65 (see Figure 5) extending through the blocks 54 and the flanges 7 when it is not desired to use the coupling plugs 43. Cubical blocks 67 in the center of each flange 7 are secured in place for reinforcing theflange by vertical rivets 69.

When the legs 11 are contracted, said legs may be folded substantially parallel with the top 3 to lie Within the confines of the flanges 7 so that the tables may be stacked compactly for storage when not in use.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only for the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims. i

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A table comprising a rectangular top panel having i-shaped corner notches formed therein and bottom reinforcing box flanges extending along the sides thereof and having hollow ends spaced apart at said corners to form sockets at opposite sides of the notches beneath the same, and coupling plugs fitting in the notches flush with the top of said panel and also fitting in said sockets at selected corners to extend from the sides of the top and fit in similar notches and sockets in the sides of tops of other tables to connect said tables side by side.

2. A table according to claim 1, said sockets being narrower than said notches and said plugs having wide I thickened rectangular notch fitting portions and reduced rectangular socketfitting end portions.

3. A table according to claim 1, and filler plugs fitting in the notches and sockets of the other corners to close the notches and having enlarged rectangular portions fitting in and closing said notches and providing corners 'on said panel.

4. A table according to claim 1, and said flanges having internal blocks fixed therein in spaced relation'to the ends thereof and provided with horizontal bores for receiving screws to fasten the tops of other tables to said flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sedaj Dec. 31, 1912 Gorsline Nov. 13, 1923 Duffy May 13, 1952 Degener Oct. ,6, 1953 Trafiord Nov. 16, 1954 Breslow Ian. 18, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS France May 6, 1954 

